There are more ways to get a book into readers' hands than ever, and that is exactly what makes the choice confusing. Agents, Amazon, IngramSpark, hybrid presses and "publishing packages" all promise to get you there.
This guide explains how to publish a book on each of the three real paths, what each one costs you in money, time and control, and how to avoid the companies that make money from authors instead of from readers.
How to publish a book: what are the three paths?
Every route falls into one of three models. The key difference is who pays for production and who takes the risk.
| Traditional publishing | Self-publishing | Hybrid publishing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who pays for editing, design, printing | Publisher | You | Usually you, in part or in full |
| Money to the author up front | An advance against royalties | None | None (you pay them) |
| Royalty per copy | Lower (a percentage of list price or net) | Highest | In between, often a share of net |
| Gatekeeping | Agent and publisher must say yes | None | A reputable hybrid still selects books |
| Creative control | Shared; publisher has final say on cover, title, price | Full | Usually high, set by contract |
| Time to publication | Commonly 1 to 2+ years after a deal | Weeks to months | Commonly 6 to 12 months |
| Bookstore distribution | Strongest | Available, but stores rarely stock it unless asked | Varies widely by publisher |
Key takeaway: Traditional publishing trades control and speed for upfront money and distribution. Self-publishing trades upfront cost for control and higher margins. Hybrid sits in between, and it is the category with the most bad actors.
How do you get a book published traditionally?
Traditional publishing is the "someone else pays" route. A publisher buys the right to publish your book, pays you an advance, and handles editing, design, printing and distribution.
Most large publishers only accept submissions through literary agents. So for most authors, getting a traditional deal really means getting an agent first.
Step 1: Prepare the right material
Fiction and nonfiction are sold differently.
- Fiction and memoir: Agents generally expect a finished, polished manuscript.
- Nonfiction: Most nonfiction is sold on a book proposal before the book is finished. A proposal includes an overview, the target market, competing titles, a chapter outline, sample chapters and a section on your platform. Our guide on how to write a book proposal covers each section.
For nonfiction, your platform matters a great deal. Publishers want evidence that you can reach readers: an email list, a business, a speaking schedule, a following, or regular media and podcast appearances.
Step 2: Build a list of agents
Look for agents who represent your category and have sold books similar to yours. Check the acknowledgments pages of comparable books, since authors often thank their agents by name.
Read each agent's submission guidelines. Some want a query letter only, some want sample pages, and nonfiction agents often ask for the proposal.
Step 3: Query in small batches
A query letter is a one-page pitch: a hook, a short description of the book, why you are the right author, and comparable titles.
Send queries in batches of 10 to 15. If you get no requests for more material, revise the query before sending the next batch. That way one weak letter doesn't burn your whole list.
Step 4: Sign with an agent, then go on submission
When an agent offers representation, ask about their recent sales, how they communicate, and what happens if the book doesn't sell. Agents are paid on commission, commonly 15% of domestic earnings. A legitimate agent never charges a reading or submission fee.
Your agent then submits the book to editors at publishers. If an editor wants it, the publisher makes an offer, and your agent negotiates the advance, royalty rates and rights.
Step 5: Edit, produce and launch
After signing, expect rounds of editing with your editor, then copyediting, proofreading, cover design and production. Traditional publishers commonly publish a book a year or more after the contract.
Use that time to build your launch. Publishers do some marketing, but authors, especially nonfiction authors, are expected to do a lot of their own.
How do you self-publish a book?
Self-publishing means you act as the publisher. You hire the editor and cover designer, own the files, set the price and keep the largest share of each sale. Here is how to self publish a book, in order.
Step 1: Finish and edit the manuscript
Self-publishing removes the gatekeepers, so quality control falls on you. At minimum, most books need a copyedit and a proofread. Many first books also benefit from a developmental edit, which looks at structure and argument before line-level polish.
Editing is usually the largest line item. See our breakdown of what a book editor costs for current rates.
Step 2: Get a professional cover and interior
Readers judge books by their covers, especially as thumbnails on Amazon. Hire a designer who works in your genre, and ask for an ebook cover plus a full print wrap (front, spine and back).
The interior also needs formatting: a reflowable ebook file and a print-ready PDF with proper margins, fonts and page numbers. Some authors use formatting software; others hire a typesetter.
Step 3: Decide on ISBNs
An ISBN identifies a specific edition of your book. Each format (paperback, hardcover, ebook, audiobook) normally needs its own.
You have two options in the US:
- Free ISBNs from your platform. KDP offers free ISBNs for paperbacks and hardcovers, but they can only be used on KDP and the imprint shows as "Independently published."
- Buy your own from Bowker, the official US ISBN agency. Bowker's MyIdentifiers site lists one ISBN at $125 and a block of 10 at $295. Owning your ISBNs lets you list your own imprint name as publisher and use the same ISBN across retailers.
ISBNs are optional for Kindle ebooks. If you plan more than one format or more than one book, the 10-pack is usually the better value.
While you're sorting out identifiers, consider registering your copyright. In the US, your work is protected by copyright as soon as it's written down, but registration with the US Copyright Office creates a public record and is required before you can sue for infringement. The online Single Application fee is $45 for one work by one author.
Add a copyright page to the book itself, too. It usually lists the copyright notice, edition, ISBNs, your imprint name and any permissions or disclaimers.
Step 4: Upload to Amazon KDP
Here is how to publish a book on Amazon through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP):
- Create a KDP account and complete your tax and payment details.
- Add a new title and enter metadata: title, subtitle, author name, description, keywords and categories.
- Upload your manuscript file and cover.
- Preview the book in KDP's previewer and fix any formatting issues.
- Set your territories, royalty option and price.
- Order a printed proof of the paperback before you publish it.
- Publish. Amazon reviews the book before it goes live.
Pricing decides your royalty. For Kindle ebooks, KDP pays 35% or 70% of the list price. The 70% option requires a list price between $2.99 and $12.99 on Amazon.com as of July 7, 2026, up from the old $9.99 ceiling, and delivery costs are deducted.
For paperbacks sold on Amazon, KDP pays 60% of list price minus printing costs for books priced at $9.99 or more, and 50% below that. KDP's own example: a $15, 333-page black-ink paperback with $5.00 of printing costs earns $4.00 per copy.
Tip: KDP Select, Amazon's optional 90-day program for ebooks, adds your book to Kindle Unlimited but requires ebook exclusivity to Amazon. Decide whether you want wide distribution before you enroll.
Step 5: Add IngramSpark for wider print distribution
Amazon is the biggest retailer, but it isn't the only one. IngramSpark distributes print and ebooks to bookstores, libraries and other retailers through Ingram's catalog, which is how stores order books.
Many self-published authors use both: KDP for Amazon, IngramSpark for everyone else. If you do, use your own ISBN on both so the edition is consistent. IngramSpark no longer charges title setup fees, so the main costs are your files and proof copies.
Step 6: Plan the launch before you publish
A self-published book has no publisher's sales team behind it, so the launch is your job. Set a publication date, build a review team, line up interviews and articles, and schedule it all in advance.
Our free book launch timeline calculator turns your publication date into a dated plan.
What is hybrid publishing, and is it legitimate?
Hybrid publishers charge the author for some or all production costs, then publish the book under their imprint and pay a higher royalty than a traditional deal. Done well, it gives you professional editing, design and distribution without the long wait.
The trouble is that "hybrid" has no legal definition, and vanity presses use the label too. The Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) publishes Hybrid Publisher Criteria as a vetting tool. Among them: a real hybrid vets submissions and turns some authors away, publishes under its own imprint, takes responsibility for quality, offers meaningful distribution, and pays royalties above the industry norm.
Before you sign with one, ask:
- How many submissions do you decline?
- What exactly does my fee pay for, line by line?
- Who are your distributors, and which stores carry your books now?
- What royalty do I earn on print and ebook, and is it a share of list price or of net?
- Who owns the files, and how do I get my rights back?
How do you avoid vanity-press scams?
A vanity press makes its money from authors rather than from book sales. Many are expensive but honest. Others hide fees, oversell marketing and keep rights long after they stop doing anything.
Writer Beware, a watchdog run by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association, keeps a detailed page on vanity, subsidy and hybrid publisher warning signs. Common red flags include:
- They found you. Unsolicited calls or emails offering to publish or "republish" your book.
- Pressure to sign fast, often with a discount that expires.
- Packages with vague deliverables, such as "global distribution" or "Hollywood exposure."
- Required purchases of your own books, or fees that appear only after you sign.
- Promises of sales or profits. No honest publisher can promise either.
- Long or one-sided rights grants with no clear way to end the contract.
Key takeaway: In traditional publishing, money flows from the publisher to the author. If a company that calls itself a traditional publisher asks you to pay, it is a vanity press. Search its name with "Writer Beware" before you talk to anyone there.
How long does it take to publish a book?
Timelines vary widely, but these are common ranges once the manuscript is written:
- Self-publishing: Editing commonly takes one to three months, cover and formatting a few weeks, and uploading a few days. Three to six months from finished draft to launch is realistic if you want time for marketing.
- Hybrid publishing: Commonly six to twelve months, depending on the publisher's schedule.
- Traditional publishing: Finding an agent can take months or longer, the submission process more months, and publication a year or more after the deal.
If you're still drafting, add the writing time on top. That stage alone commonly takes longer than everything listed above.
How do you choose the right path?
If you are figuring out how to write a book and get it published, decide on the path before you finish. It affects whether you write a proposal or a full manuscript first.
Ask yourself four questions:
- What is the book for? If it supports a consulting practice, speaking career or course, speed and control often matter more than an imprint's name.
- Do you have a platform? Traditional nonfiction publishers buy authors who can reach readers. If you don't have one yet, you can build it, but it takes time.
- What can you invest? Self-publishing well takes money up front. Our guide to how much it costs to publish a book has line-by-line ranges.
- How much control do you want? If you care about the title, cover and price, self-publishing gives you the final say.
There is no wrong answer. Plenty of authors self-publish first, build an audience, and later sign traditional deals, and plenty go the other way.
What happens after your book is published?
On every path, publishing the book is the start, not the finish line. Readers have to hear about it.
For nonfiction authors, long-form podcast interviews are one of the most efficient ways to reach the right readers. A good interview lets listeners hear you explain your ideas for 30 to 60 minutes, which is close to what reading your book feels like.
If you'd rather not pitch shows yourself, our podcast book tour service researches, pitches and schedules interviews around your launch window.
